De Anza College to UCSD
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
De Anza clears 11 of UCSD's 17 Mechanical Engineering requirements, with an honors-eligible calculus chain and five course options for MAE 8. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no De Anza match.
From
De Anza College
To
UC San Diego
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UCSD | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CIS 35A or CIS 22A or CIS 40 or CIS 41A or CIS 41B — Java Programming | MAE 8 — MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis | 4.5 |
| CHEM 1A or CHEM 1AH — General Chemistry I | CHEM 6A — General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 2B or MATH 2BH — Linear Algebra | MATH 18 — Linear Algebra | 5 |
| MATH 1A or MATH 1AH — Calculus I | MATH 20A — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 1B or MATH 1BH — Calculus II | MATH 20B — Calculus for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| (MATH 1C and MATH 1D) or (MATH 1CH and MATH 1DH) — Calculus III | MATH 20C — Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering | 5 |
| MATH 2A or MATH 2AH — Differential Equations | MATH 20D — Introduction to Differential Equations | 5 |
| MATH 1C + MATH 1D — Calculus III + Calculus IV | MATH 20E — Vector Calculus | 10 |
| PHYS 4A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics | PHYS 2A — Physics - Mechanics | 6 |
| PHYS 4B — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 2B — Physics - Electricity and Magnetism | 6 |
| PHYS 4C — Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Fluids, Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics | PHYS 2C — Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics | 6 |
| No De Anza match | MAE 20 — Elements of Materials Science | — |
| No De Anza match | MAE 3 — Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design | — |
| No De Anza match | MAE 11 — Thermodynamics | — |
| No De Anza match | MAE 30A — Statics & Introduction to Dynamics | — |
| No De Anza match | MAE 30B — Dynamics & Vibrations | — |
| No De Anza match | MAE 40 — Linear Circuits | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC San Diego after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at De Anza College
Complete these five courses at De Anza College to start your UCSD GE pattern. Finishing full IGETC/Cal-GETC at the CC is ideal — these five give you the broadest head start, and CCN-tagged courses stay portable if you switch community colleges.
BIOL 10
Introductory Biology
CHEM 10
Introductory Chemistry
HIST 17A
History of the United States to Early National Era
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 10 — Introductory Biology | 5 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Introductory Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 17A — History of the United States to Early National Era | 4 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 5 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 5 |
Six quarters of math before you transfer
MATH D043H leads into MATH 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 2B, six quarters minimum. UCSD wants Math 18 and 20A-D finished by the spring before transfer, so this chain has to start right away.
Preview
Your First Quarter
A preview of what Transfermatic generates — exact courses, in the right order, every quarter.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
Honors math matches all but MATH 20E
De Anza's honors calculus, MATH 1AH through MATH 2BH, matches the same UCSD courses as the standard track with one exception: ASSIST matches MATH 20E, vector calculus, only to standard MATH 1C plus MATH 1D.
Five De Anza courses clear MAE 8
UCSD's MAE 8 MATLAB requirement opens with any one of CIS 35A, CIS 22A, CIS 40, CIS 41A or CIS 41B. Pick whichever fits your schedule; ASSIST accepts all five.
MAE 20 and 40 aren't admission requirements
De Anza has no match for MAE 20 or MAE 40. UCSD's notes call both recommended before transfer, not required for admission, so neither blocks your application. You'll still need both for the degree at UCSD.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does De Anza's honors calculus transfer to UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
Mostly. The honors courses, MATH 1AH through MATH 2BH, match MATH 18 and MATH 20A through 20D like the standard ones. MATH 20E, which UCSD recommends, is matched only by standard MATH 1C and MATH 1D.
What doesn't De Anza cover for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no De Anza match, so those come after transfer. MAE 20 and MAE 40 are recommended but not required before you apply.
Does De Anza's quarter calendar cause problems for UCSD transfer?
No. UCSD runs quarters too, so De Anza's coursework, including the six-quarter math chain, carries over without a semester-to-quarter conversion.
What's the admit rate for UCSD Mechanical Engineering?
31% of all transfer applicants to UCSD's Mechanical Engineering major were admitted in 2025. That's across every applicant, not specific to De Anza students.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
De Anza College students transferring into UC San Diego's Mechanical Engineering, B.S. program clear eleven of seventeen requirements, anchored by an honors-eligible calculus chain running MATH 1A through MATH 2B. Because De Anza and UC San Diego both run quarters, that six-quarter sequence carries over without a semester conversion. MAE 3, MAE 11, MAE 30A and MAE 30B have no De Anza match, and MAE 20 and MAE 40 are recommended rather than required before you apply. On our platform, put in your CC and your transfer university and Transfermatic checks De Anza's quarter requirements against UC San Diego automatically.
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